Patent · US Expired

Optical polarization-state converting apparatus for use as isolator, modulator and the like

US5245465A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
4References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 4, 1992
Grant dateSep 14, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 4, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F1/0955
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In a polarization-state converting apparatus for use as an optical isolator, an optical modulator and the like, there are provided a waveguide including a magnetic semiconductor, a device for applying a magnetic field to the waveguide in a first predetermined direction, a device for applying an electric field to the waveguide in a second predetermined direction, and a mode conversion is caused via electrooptic and magnetooptic effects due to the electric and magnetic fields to change the polarization state of light propagating through the waveguide. When used as an optical isolator, the optical isolation is performed to compensate for degradation of the mode conversion rate due to a phase mismatch between light incident upon the waveguide and light emerging from the waveguide. When used as an optical modulator, the optical modulation of light emerging from the waveguide is performed by varying the electric field and an optical isolation function is effected while compensating for degradation of the mode conversion rate due to a phase mismatch between light incident upon the waveguide and light emerging from the waveguide.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.